Crescent Stars Soar When Creating Flying Hearts – Daily Republic

By Kris Corey

Crescent Elementary School recently held its first ever Virtual Family and Staff Paint Night. The event was an overwhelming success. Students, family members and staff joined together via Zoom and had a fun time painting under the direction of Crescent’s Art Teacher, Dana Lockhart. To participate, the staff created a reservation system, and families stopped by to pick up pre-packaged art kits for the evening.

Crescent’s Principal, Jodie Phan, received positive feedback from families and students who are eagerly awaiting the next opportunity to create art together in a virtual setting. Principal Phan was excited to have such a positive event to bring the school family together. First grader Avery Bell said, “It was super fun!” Savannah Snyder, a 3rd grader at Crescent shared, “It was awesome! Can we do it again?”

Source: Press Release: Crescent Stars Soar When Creating Flying Hearts

Fairfield-Suisun Adult School preschool welcomes new mural – Daily Republic

By Amy Maginnis-Honey

When youngsters return to the Fairfield-Suisun Adult School preschool program they will be welcomed by a completed mural that covers the outside walls of the classrooms and faces the play area.

Artist Stephanie Lombard added many details to the happy interactive scene where toddlers are encouraged to do modified push-ups with a painted raccoon, size their feet with the bear tracks painted on the cement, trace a bee trail and enjoy myriad creatures.

One detail includes a stick figure at two different mural locations – one in a bird’s nest, the other dancing with ladybugs.

Source: Fairfield-Suisun Adult School preschool welcomes new mural

SCOE’s Student Art Faire Moves Online | Benicia, CA Patch

The Solano County Office of Education’s (SCOE) Annual Student Art Faire is going virtual this year. In response to the COVID-19 global pandemic, the Art Faire is getting a new look, but will continue to showcase student artists from across Solano County.

Artistic expression is a healthy coping strategy and is beneficial to physical and mental development in children and youth. The Solano County Art Faire encourages youth to express themselves and the emotions they are feeling. Anxiety and stress may be increased for students due to the current social and global conditions, so providing students with a healthy coping mechanism and outlet is important.

Source: SCOE’s Student Art Faire Moves Online | Benicia, CA Patch

SCOE holding virtual Student Art Faire – The Reporter

By Nick Sestanovich

As the quarantine has given Solano County’s creative youth more opportunities to utilize their artistic skills, the Solano County Office of Education is once again showcasing their work through the annual Student Art Faire.

Only it won’t be a physical event but rather a virtual one.

Due to the global coronavirus pandemic, the Art Faire is being held through Facebook but will continue to feature the works of Solano’s young artistic visionaries.

Source: Coronavirus: SCOE holding virtual Student Art Faire – The Reporter

Solano Student Art Faire goes virtual for 2020 – Daily Republic

Any K-12 students who wants to submit artwork to the annual Student Art Faire can do so now – only this year there is a twist.

The faire has gone virtual due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“This year is a little different to be sure,” Solano County Superintendent of Schools Lisette Estrella-Henderson said in a statement.

“During these challenging times, the role of art can become more central to our lives, whether we realize it or not. Through art we can move to the vast inner said in the statement of our thoughts and imagination, a place we have perhaps neglected. Art is a cornerstone in the development of one’s creativity and can be a great coping strategy for our youth,” Estrella-Henderson said.

Source: Solano Student Art Faire goes virtual for 2020

High school artists win honors for ceramics, painting, more – Daily Republic

By Amy Maginnis-Honey

The Fairfield-Suisun Visual Arts Association hosted its fourth annual art show open to area high schoolers.

Among the exhibitors was Katherine Gerhardt, a senior at Rodriguez High School.

She earned a Juror’s Choice Award for acrylic painting, “Cry Me a River,” which was inspired by Roy Lichtenstein’s pop art.

Gerhardt painted the 40-foot-by-60-foot work in her bedroom.

Source: High school artists win honors for ceramics, painting, more

BHS students sell seven art pieces at Arata Art Gallery – Benicia Herald

Often times in the art world, to be considered a professional artist means that you show your work in galleries and/or sell your work to others. This is certainly not the only definition for being a professional artist, but at least fourteen art students at Benicia High School will have earned the right to use it and can now call themselves “professional artists.” Last Saturday, at an artist reception at Arata Art Gallery seven works were sold to visiting art patrons, paintings that were a part of “Panther Perspective” an art show featuring the art submitted by Benicia High School students in Beth Seilonen’s art classes.

At the reception the following students were honored for their impressive art now on exhibit: Gabriel Pliego, Zoe Roberts, Fiona Lovett, Jay Lightfoot, Mackenzie Bradley, Charlotte Austria, William Bergeron, Spencer Owen, Allison A. Avery, Renee Cola Francesco, Marlie Fitzgerald, Hannah Marie Williams, Jamison Woy, and Mia Bonotan.

Source: ‘Panther Perspective’ a huge success: BHS students sell seven art pieces at Arata Art Gallery

Light Harp Challenge showcases Benicia High art students’ talent through fundraiser – Benicia Herald

By Editor

Who doesn’t love a challenge? The Little Art Shop, one of Benicia’s premium art galleries on First Street, recently put forth a challenge to five Benicia High School students – create a work of art inspired by Scott Zoog’s sculpture, The Light Harp.

In 2017 a collaborative effort for Public Art began between Joe Lopez, owner of the Tannery Building and Rejina Christopher, owner of The Little Art Shop inside the Tannery Building. Together they commissioned Zoog to create a beautiful steel and glass piece which was installed in Dec. of 2018 behind the Tannery Building on the Carquinez Waterfront. Viewers have varied interpretations of the flowing lines of Zoog’s sculpture and declared it a pelican, fish, angel, butterfly or gymnast.

Source: Light Harp Challenge showcases Benicia High art students’ talent through fundraiser

Student muralists wanted! – Benicia Herald

Interested in painting a mural? The Benicia Arts & Culture Commission in collaboration with the Benicia Unified School District are accepting applications for this Spring’s art mural installation on Military West.

This multi-panel art installation is designed to showcase student expressions in a highly visible public art location.

This is the third year in a row that student art has been displayed near the entrance to Mary E. Farmar Elementary School at W. 10th and Military West.

Source: Student muralists wanted!

Film shot by differently abled adults debuts at VPAT – The Reporter

By Nick Sestanovich

For a few hours Wednesday night, Vacaville Cultural Center felt like Hollywood as actors attired in tuxedos and fancy dresses paraded down a red carpet and cameras flashed while they made their way to the premiere of their new movie.

While it may have looked like a smaller scale premiere of the new “Star Wars” movie, it was actually the debut of a film by students at Joey Travolta’s Inclusion Films camp, which took place at Golden Hills Community School in Fairfield this past summer.

Travolta — a veteran filmmaker, producer and actor from a famous show-business family that includes his younger brother John — founded Inclusion Films in 2007 to teach filmmaking skills to individuals with developmental disabilities. His organization currently hosts a variety of film camps throughout California, and Solano hosted its first this past summer largely funded through donors like NorthBay Healthcare, Soroptimist International of Vacaville Twilight Club, Solano County Office of Education and Dutch Bros. Coffee of Fairfield.

Source: Film shot by differently abled adults debuts at VPAT – The Reporter

SCOE Film camp opens doors to young adults with disabilities – Daily Republic

BY Amy Maginnis-Honey

There was a red carpet premiere Wednesday in Vacaville.

The almost 50 adults involved in the film showed up in suits, ties, dresses and hats. They sat in the first few rows at the Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre to see the first Inclusion Films project done in Solano County.

“The Bizarre Zone” was played before a packed house. In the crowd was Joey Travolta, older brother of actor John Travolta. He’s also a former special education teacher.

“It takes a village,” he said. “This is an unbelievable village.”

Source: Stories to tell: Film camp opens doors to young adults with disabilities

Always Something To Celebrate – Times-Herald

By Richard Freedman

Kaiser Permanente has awarded $1 million in grants to 42 local nonprofit organizations that provide services and programs to improve the health of under-served communities throughout the Napa Solano area. The grant recipients include local non-profits, public health agencies, school districts, and human service organizations.

Local recipients include, from Vallejo:

Fighting Back Partnership, which will use its funding to increase the health of underserved Vallejo communities by expanding capacity to provide comprehensive case management and social emotional learning activities to 20 low-to-moderate-income families and 500 high school youth within the Vallejo City Unified School District.

Source: October 24 Arts and Entertainment Source: Always Something To Celebrate – Times-Herald

Dixon teacher shoots music video promoting positive relationships – The Reporter

By Nick Sestanovich

Neil Postman famously wrote, “Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see.” With that in mind, it is considered important for children to set positive examples — and form positive relationships — starting from a very early age to ensure that the future itself is positive.

Sheila Herd, a math teacher at CA Jacobs Middle School, chose to promote positive culture among youth via a music video she shot of students throughout Dixon Unified School District. To bring that message home, she chose the very right song and had the blessing of the band that wrote it.

Herd describes herself as a music lover who attends a lot of concerts and bonds with her son over a lot of bands. One band she is a huge fan of is the Strumbellas, a Canadian indie folk band best known for their 2016 No. 1 alternative hit “Spirits,” which netted them several Canadian music awards, including the coveted Juno Award for Single of the Year.

Source: Dixon teacher shoots music video promoting positive relationships – The Reporter

Business teaches acrylic pouring – The Reporter

By Nick Sestanovich

Most people use summer as an opportunity to go to the beach, but visitors at Dirty Pour Designs created their own Tuesday out of acrylic paint.

The event was part of the art studio’s summer program to teach the technique of dirty pouring to individuals of all ages and abilities and give them an opportunity to get messy and walk away with a painting, all without using a brush.

Dirty Pour co-owner Tina Swift demonstrated how to use the technique, which she said she came across by accident as she was designing furniture as part of her other business, Deconstructed By Design.

Source: Business teaches acrylic pouring – The Reporter

Solano County art students showcase skills in annual Art Faire – The Reporter

By Nick Sestanovich

More than 400 artistically inclined students from 27 schools throughout Solano County showcased their work in the Solano County Student Art Faire, held Saturday at the Solano County Fairgrounds’ McCormack Hall.

The work ranged from computer art to sculptures to drawing to mixed media to painting to photography, with many students exhibiting their work for the first time. Ribbons were bestowed to students who placed first, second, third or won honorable mentions in each category. A Best in Show ribbon was given to one artist in each division, and every artist received a certificate just for taking part.

“The Solano Student Art Faire is something we look forward to every year,” Lisette Estrella-Henderson, Solano County superintendent of schools, said in a statement. “It is a special time to bring students, parents, teachers, and the community together to honor the work students have completed over the school year and celebrate the importance of the arts in education.”

Source: Solano County art students showcase skills in annual Art Faire – The Reporter

Town Center Gallery showcases Solano student artists – Daily Republic

By Daily Republic Staff

Visitors to the Solano Town Center Gallery can view and bid on artworks from Solano County Office of Education students.

Students from the Solano County Office of Education have visited the gallery each Friday over the past several months to create their own masterpieces.

Proceeds benefit a special-needs class.

Source: Town Center Gallery showcases Solano student artists

Rodriguez High alumnus Leveau gives back to community – Daily Republic

By Daily Republic Staff

Jordan Leveau, CEO of Artpop Cosmetics, contacted one of his former teachers from Rodriguez High School with an idea for his new lip kit release.

Artpop is an organic, vegan, animal-cruelty free, California-based, vibrant cosmetic makeup line, according to the company’s website. It launched a new lip kit Wednesday at the San Francisco RAW Impact Showcase.

To highlight the company’s vision, Leveau asked Lynn Larsen to have her students design and paint a backdrop for the event.

Source: Rodriguez High alumnus Leveau gives back to community

New K-12 California Arts Standards – Year 2019 (CA Dept of Education)

State Superintendent Tony Thurmond praised the recent adoption of new California Arts standards by the State Board of Education, stating it is a critical step in enhancing creativity in students and preparing students for California’s “creative economy.” The last update to the state’s arts standards was in 2001.

“This was long overdue. Creativity and appreciation for the arts is important for all students to have a well-rounded education, exposing them to new ideas and perspectives. Arts education boosts school attendance, academic achievement, and college attendance rates; improves school climate; and promotes higher self-esteem and social-emotional development.” Thurmond said. “In addition, proficiency in the technology related to creative work is becoming an important skill for students as they progress into college and career.”

According to a 2018 report External link opens in new window or tab. by the Otis College of Art and Design, California’s creative economy generated $407.1 billion in economic output and 1.6 billion jobs, resulting in $141.5 billion in wages earned statewide. In the Los Angeles region alone, the creative economy generated $198 billion in economic output with $59.6 billion in wages earned.

Source: New K-12 California Arts Standards – Year 2019 (CA Dept of Education)

Rodriguez art students conceive, create first mural – Daily Republic

By Daily Republic Staff

Rodriguez High has a new mural, thanks to the efforts of AP art teacher Lynne Larsen and her students.

It’s the first student-painted mural at the high school.

Each student had the opportunity to be part of the work by completing the mural class assignment. Larsen presented the finished works to the administration and owner of the proposed mural location.

The concept from Nyla Fukushima, a 16-year-old junior, was chosen.

Source: Rodriguez art students conceive, create first mural

2019 Solano Co. Student Art Faire- Suisun City, CA Patch

By Susan C. Schena

The 2019 Solano County Student Art Faire, open to the public, is set for Saturday, May 18, 2019 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the McCormick Hall at the Solano County Fairgrounds, 900 Fairgrounds Drive in Vallejo, according to the Solano County Office of Education.

“Some of the best 4th- through 12th-grade artists will showcase their artwork and the new location will allow for more masterpieces to be on display,” the agency said.

Students must submit their artwork through their schools for consideration for display at the Art Faire exhibit, and schools must register to participate, plus indicate the anticipated number of art pieces, by Dec. 14, officials said.

Source: 2019 Solano Co. Student Art Faire: Dates & Deadlines | Suisun City, CA Patch